Retrenched workers of GCDGL fight AkDA leader over Jospong

Retrenched workers of the Great Consolidated Diamond Ghana Limited by the State Interests and Governance Authority (SIGA) have expressed anger at what they described as palpable lies spewed by a personality holding himself as President of Akwatia Development Association over managerial issues he has no knowledge of in a letter he titled “Open Letter to Claims and Protests by Jospong Group about Akwatia Mines”.

Leader of the stranded workers Mr. Affail Broni Owusu has said the AkDA leader has inadequate knowledge of the day-to-day administration of the company so does not have knowledge of staff grievances and can therefore not be seen to be speaking the truth.

He said what surprises them most is Dr. Amuzu’s perpetual attempts to drag the respected Akwatia Development Association into the issue between GCDGL and SIGA.

They wonder why Dr. Amuzu made himself a spokesperson for SIGA instead of AkDA if indeed he is representing the association and suggested he took money from the authorities of SIGA to destroy their company or owner of the Jospong Group Dr. Joseph Siaw Agyepong.

The workers said this in an interview conducted in Atiwa during a visit to the GCDGL in the Easten Region.

The workers, some of whom are from Akwatia narrated how dilapidated the state of the company was before government handed over to GCDGL and how its equipment were obsolete at the time of transfer of ownership.

The workers said instead of encouraging the owners of the company to consolidate their efforts by bringing their restructuring measures to speed, he and the SIGA boss are busy destroying a just Ghanaian company which has made substantial investments so far in an attempt to revive the mine and make it commercially viable.

Mr. Kojo Obeng one of the workers based in the Accra office said GCDGL also focused on meeting the necessary regulatory, engineering and restructuring works necessary to achieve their objective immediately they took over.

He said it was shocking the style government came in a Rambo-style to force them out of the premises both in Accra and Akwatia as if they were not Ghanaians and hoped government will allow for truce to prevail between the parties to necessitate the quick revival of the company to bring the needed jobs to the youth of Akwatia as a matter of urgency.

Mr. Obeng said GCDGLhas made payments on account, and through its principal shareholder been in dialogue with government with the aim of settling the outstanding liability by way of a set-off from government’s liability to the shareholder.

He said government has not even responded to this proposal despite the repeated overtures and therefore did not understand why Dr. Amuzu who doesn’t work for government can tell that government had made efforts to meet with Jospong to no avail.

He said there was no doubt that Dr Amuzu was acting in the interest of Mr. Asamoah Boateng his paymaster and not the people of Akwatia.

Another worker Mr. Stephen Ntiamoah who worked as an accounts representative was categorical that Jospong paid millions of dollars as investment into the mine which was closed down.

He said in the development plan to revive the mine to full-scale operations, GCDGL have undertaken numerous feasibility studies and development activities amounting to over 20 million USD.

“The GCDGL and its strategic partners have reached an advanced stage to execute a 50 million USD investment to operationalize the mine of which a memorandum of understanding has been signed” he recalled.

He wondered why in a democratic dispensation such as ours’, government officials would hire the services of the state security agencies to illegally and unconstitutionally enter GCDGL premises both in Accra and Akwatia, took over the security of the mine, closed down all the offices, seized staff vehicles and mobile phones, threatened staff, and so on without notice.

No worker of GCDGL is happy about the inhumane action of SIGA and we condemn it to no uncertain terms said some of the workers.

It is our prayer that Dr. Amuzu stays clear off this matter and especially not drag the name of Akwatia Development Association which some of us are members into this matter said Mr. Owusu.

He then called on the Jospong Group of Companies to take steps to resolve the matter between the two parties.